Controlling mechanism for looms.



H'. P. MLRRIAM.-

GONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APLIGATION FILED MAY 26, 1910.

Patented J an. 10, 1911.

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PJMERRIAM.

GONTROLLING MEGHANISM FOR 'LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1910.

Patented J an. 10, 1911.

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UNTED STTES @PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY P. MERRIAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application ined May 2e, 1910,

1'0 all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY l). Minimi-fiat, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city7 county, andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inControlling Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is aspecification.

It is 'a common practice in the construction of looms to provide a loomstopping mechanism operated lby a slide upon which is pivoted a weftfork formed with a dog or detent which is adapted to be engaged by theweft hammer in the event`of the fork remaining in normal position byreason of the breakingof the weft thread. It is also common practice inthe construction of automatic looms to provide a weft replenishingmechanism by which either the exhausted shuttle is removed from the layand replaced by a filled shuttle, or the exhausted weft carrier in theactive shuttle is replaced by a filled weft carrier; such automatic weftrepl'enishing mechanisms being actuated by some form of weft detectingdevice which controls a dog or detent (or some other form ofintermediate mechanism) which connects up the replenishing mechanismwith some form of constantly moving operating mechanism.

The present invention relates to an improved form of "controllingmechanism with weft detecting device for controlling the operation oflooms. This improved controlling mechanism may be utilized for arrestingthe operation of a loom, or for throwing into action a weft replenishingmechanism of any suitable construction, and when used for the latterpurpose, it may be employed in combination with one of the usual formsof loom stopping mechanism, controlled by the ordinary weft fork.

My present invention comprises a loom controlling mechanism operatingupon the pneumatic principle in which the pressure is determined by thepresence or absence of the weft upon the carrier in the shuttle.

In the preferred construction of my improved constrolling mechanism, Iprovide a pressure operated device controlling` the position of a dog ordetent upon a slide which voperates the loom stopping mechanism or theweft replenishing mechanism, said pressure operated device serving tohold said dog or detent out of engagement Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 563,570.

with the weft hammer during the normal operation of the machine or solong as the active shuttle carries sufficient weft thread for its workand to retain the pressure at normal, and to permit said dog or detentto move into the path of said weft hammer when the exhaustion or nearexhaustion 0f the weft thread in the active shuttle necessitates achange and allows the pressure to drop below normal. A' suitable sourceof air pressure communicates with said pressure operated device througha valved passage, to supply air pressure thereto. A normally closedescape or release valve is provided for said pressure operated devicefor normally retaining the pressure therein and for reducing thepressure when the weft in the active shuttle is nearly or quiteexhausted. This escape or release valve is designed to be operated by atubular weft detecting member which is arranged to project throughopenings in the shuttle box and shuttle into engagement with the weftcarrier or the weft thread wound thereon at each alternate movement ofthe lay toward the breast beam. The engagement of the carrier or theweft thereon with the tubular detecting member opens up communicationthrough said release valve between the tubular detecting member and thepressure operated device. If the weft carrier in the active shuttlecontains a sutlicient length of weft thread for the next succeeding toand fro flights 'of the shuttle, the escape opening in the end of thetubular detecting member will be closed by the weft simultaneously withthe opening of the release valve, so that the pressure in the pressureoperated device will be maintained at normal and the controlledmechanism held out of operation. Theoperation of this controllingmechanism continues for every alternate movement of the lay toward thebreast beam until the weft upon the carrier in the active shuttle isnearly or quite exhausted, when there will not be sutlicient weft leftupon the carrier to close the escape opening in the end of the fillingdetecting member so that upon the opening of the release valve, the airpressure is allowed to escape through said filling d itecting member andthe pressure will be reduced in the pressure operated devicesufficiently to throw the dog or detent in the path of the weft hammer,which latter, engages said dog or detent upon its next forward strokeand actuates the wett replenishing mechanism ot the loom throw outmechanism in a manner well understood. lin this way the presence orabsence of a sutlicient length oi" wett thread in the active shuttledetermines the pressure in the pressure operated device which in turndetermines the operation oit the controlled mechanism.

ldlhen the improved controlling mechanism is applied to the control of awettreplenishing mechanism, it is desirable to provide means forautomatically and quickly restoring the normal pressure to the pressureoperated device immediately after the change ot a shuttle or wettcarrier in order that the mechanism will be presented in controllingcondition when the replenished shuttle is thrown into action in theloom. To accomplish this result, l provide an automatically operatedauxiliary pressure supplying device. prefer to provide an auxilla rypressure supply passage in communication with the pressure operateddevice and an automatic valve controlling said passage and arranged tobe operated by a part ot the mechanism which is actuated when the wettreplenishing mechanism is operated. 1With such an arrangement, it willbe understood that the controlling' mechanism operates, when thepressure is reducedj and causes the operation of the wett replenishingmechanism, and that the operation ot the controlled mechanism causes animmediate restoration of the pressure in the pressure actuated device sothat the loom can continue to operate under the automatic control withthe replenished shuttle without material interruption. This auxiliarypressure restoring device is particularly important when thecontrolling` mechanism is operated with a throttled down main pressuresupply and the escape ot pressure for each operation ot the pneumaticdetecting device at theapproaching exhaustion of the wett from theshuttle, is not entirely restored by said main pressure supply, so as tocause the operation ot' the automatic control by the cumulative loss ot'pressure.

The improved loom controlling mechanism operating upon the describedprinciple in which the presence and absence ot the filling in the activeshuttle are detected by air pressure, may be variously constructed sotar as concerns the detail arrangement ot parts. rThe mechanism is nott'unctionally dependent upon the change in volume ot the wett in theactive shuttle, nor upon the form or uniformity of the wett carrier orthe winding of the thread.

To clearly illustrate the principle ot my invention, l have shown in theaccompanying drawings one term ot controlling mechanismconstructed inaccordance therewith.

ln said drawings: Figure .l is a plan view ot part ot a loom having myimproved con-- trolling mechanism applied thereto. Fig. l is a detailsectional plan view ot a part ot the same showing the auxiliary pressuresupply device. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is adetail vertical sectional view talien on the line of Figs. l and 2. Fig.l is detail sectional view ot the adjustable air supply valve tor thepressure operated device. ltig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken onthe line 5 ot Figs. l and Figs. (5 and 7 are detail views illustratingthe operation of the pneumatic wett detecting device. Fig. 8 is a detailperspective view ot part ot said detecting` device. t) is a View similarto Figs. G and 7 showing a slightly modified form ot wett detectingdevice. F l0 is a detailv perspective view ot a modiiied form of thecontrolled mechanism adapted to be actuated either by the filling forlior the improved pneumatic detecting device.

ln the drawings. which show only parts ot an ordinary loom with myin'iprovements applied thereto, l represents the breast beam, 2 the laybar, and 3 the shuttle box at the lett hand end ot' the lay bar. 5represents a shuttle in the shuttle box 3, and the wett bobbin mountedin the shuttle in the usual way. These parts are all ot usualconstruction with the exception that the front wall ot the shuttle box 3has an opening il cut through it and the front wall oit the shuttle hasan opening o cut through it which is designed to register with theopening et of the shuttle box when the shuttle is in proper' positiontherein for the reception ot the wett detecting device in the mannerhereinafter explained. In the application ot| my invention to automaticlooms, the shuttle box at the end of the lay opposite to the wettrcplenishing magazine is the one which is termed with the detectorreceivingl opening ft, and in the application ot the in'- vention toplain looms, the shuttle box near the ordinary wett detecting tori; isthe one formed with said detector receiving` opening.

l() is the ordinary shipper bar byV which the loom is thrown into andout ot operation. rThis shipper bar is indicated only in section in Fig.l of the drawings but it will be understood that it is mounted in theusual manner and connected up with the belt shitting devices. Thisshipper bar l0 is retained in positionfor holding the loom in operationby the shoulder ll formed in the plate ot the breast beam l, and whenthe shipper bar is disengaged trom said shoulder, its sin-ing moves itto the lett oit Fig. l in the slot l2 in a manner well understood.

l5 is a lever pivoted at lG upon the breast beam l in position to engagethe .trout ot the shipper bar l0 at one end and to he engaged by theadjustable controlling and operating slide '17 mounted upon the breastlOO beam in the usual manner and carrying at its forward end the usualweft detectingl fork 18 which is operated by the weft hammer indicatedat 20. This throw out mechanism under the control of the weft detectligfork 18 is of common construction.

Arranged alongside of the slide 17 in suitable guideways 25 upon thebreast beam 1 is a second controlling slide 26 which is designed to beconnected in any suitable manner with any appropriate form of w-eftreplenishing mechanism. In the drawings, I have shown part of a verticallever 30 connected with the controlling slide 26 through a link 31.These weft replenishing mechanisms are so well known in this art that itis thought unnecessary to illustrate any particular form of suchmechanism. By the term weft replenishing mechanism I mean to include alltypes of such mechaiiism, whether of the form for replacing an exhaustedshuttle with a filled shuttle, or the form in which an exhausted weftcari'ier or bobbin is replaced in the same shuttle by a filled weftcarrier.

The slide 2G has pivotally mounted upon it at 27 a controlled dog ordetent 28 formed with a downwardly presented flange or shoulder 29 whichis adapted to be engaged by the weft hammer 20 for operating said slideand throwing` into action the mechanism connected therewith.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have formed the weft hammer 2O with aU-shaped upper rnd to provide two dog engaging arms, one arranged toengage the dog of the weft detecting fork 18, while the other isarranged to engage the dog 28 of the slide which operates the weftreplenishiiig mechanism. The dog or detent 28 is provided with anangular arm 28a which projects over the rearwardly presented arm 35 of acontrolling lever 86 mounted upon a pivot rod 37 supported at its endsin the adjustable bearings 38 seated in brackets 39. A torsion spring1() is coiled upon the pivot roc 37 with one end in engagement with thecontrolling lever 86 and the other end in engagement with an adjustabledisk 41 pivoted upon one of the bearings 38 and formed with a series ofholes or openings 42 into which the retaining pin is designed to engagefor holding` the torsion spring 40 adjusted to the desired tension. Theretaining pin fst-3 is slidingly mounted in one of the brackets 39 sothat it can readily be moved into and out of engagement with the holesor openings L12 of adjustable disk 41. This controlling lever 36 extendsdiametrically across the casing of a controlling diaphragm whichconstitutes an element which I have heretofore referred to as a pressureoperated device for controlling the above described dog or detent uponthe slide 26.

A cylindrical diaphragm casing 45 is suitably mounted upon the breastbeam of the loom alongside o f the guideway 25. Mount.- ed within thediaphragm casing in the usual manner is a diaphragm 50 secured at itsedge between the casing #l5 and the cover plate lo, it being understoodthat the chamber formed by the casing 45 and cover 46 is of proper shapeto allow the fi'ee rise and fall of the diaphragm under the action ofair pressure supplied beneath the diaphragm in the manner hereinafterexplain-ed. The central part of the diaphragm is reinforced in the usualinaiiner by suitable metal plates or disks indicated at 47 and securedin place upon the diaphragm in any usual way. A pin 48 is shownprojecting up from the uppei plate 47 and operating freely in a centralguide opening 49 of the cover plate 1G. The controlling lever 8G isformed with a downwardly presented lug or boss 36a which rests upon thepin L18 and by reason of the rising and falling of the diaphragm 50,said lever 3G is caused to move up and down upon its pivot, the tensionspring 40 tending to move it and the diaphragm downwardly, and the airpressure beneath the diaphragm tending to move the diaphragm andsupported controlling lever 8G upwardly against the tension of thespring 40. Since the controlled dog or detent 28 is supported by theengagement of its arm 28a with the arm of lever 3G, it will beunderstood that the pressure operated device or diaphragm 50 controlsthe position of the dog or detent 28. When this dog or detent 28 is inlowered position, its lug or flange 29 is presented in the path of onearm of the weft hammer 20,

whereas when'it is in its raised position, said flange 29 will besupported out of the path of the weft hammer so that it will not beengaged.

The arm 35 of lever 3G is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 3 oft-lie drawings, with a high portion at its end and a reduced or cut outintermediate portion. The arm 28a of dog or detent 28 is of small crosssection and rests normally upon high portion 35a of arm 35. Then slide26 moves outwardly under the action of the weft hammer, the arm 28a ismoved away from high portion 35 of arm and thereby frees lever 3G topermit the restoration of pressure beneath diaphragm 50 in the mannerand for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The diaphragm chamber 415 has a port or passage 55 leading from itbeneath the diaphragm and communicating with a threeway coupling 5G.This three-way coupling 5G has connected with one of its passageways 'anair supply pipe 57 which leads from an air pump, a pressure reservoir orsome other suitable source of air under pressure. The

that because of the extreme delicacy of the controlling mechanism, verysmall air pump is suthcient to supply the requisite air under pressurefor accurately operating the 'mechanisnn A throttling screw valve 5S isthreaded into the three-way coupling 56 with its conical end adapted tobe seated in the passage leading 'from the air supply pipe 57. Byadjusting this screw valve 58, the rate of tlow of air admitted to thepassage leading' to the pressure diaphragm will be regulated to anicety.

1t is desirable for reasons hereinafter explained to provide means forquickly restoring the pressure beneath the diaphragm 50 immediatelyafter the operation oitl the controlling mechanism. To accomplish thisresult 1 have arranged an auxiliary pressure supply pipe leading fromthe main pressure supply pipe to the chamber beneath the diaphragm, andhave mounted in said auxiliary passageway a normally closedautomatically opcn valve operated by some part et the controlledmechanism. This auxiliary pressure supply device is shown in Figs. 1, 1,and 2. 130 is the auxiliary pipe leading trom the main air supply pipe57 beneath valve 5S and communicating with a valve casing 131 which isin open communication at 132 with the diaphragm casing 415 beneath thediaphragm. 133 a valve seat in casing 131. and 131 is a valve operatingagainst the seat 133. rThe valve 13-1 is mounted upon a valve stem 135supported in suitable bearing in the valve casing 131. An expansionspring 136 surrounds the valve stem 135 and tends to move the valve awaytrom its seat toopen it. The valve stem 135 projects through an openingin the closingplug` 137 and its end is normally engaged by a springi'inger 139 shown attached to the lever 30 which controls the operationof the wett replenishing mecha- .nism. The engagement of spring linger13S with the valve stem holds the valve normally in closed position sothat no air pressure passes through the easing 131 into the diaphragmchamber. lVhen, however. slide 26 is operated the spring finger 139 ismoved away from the valve stem and t-he spring oit the valve moves it.into open position to allow suticient additional pressure beneath thediaphragm to restore it to normal expanded position. llhe importance ofthis auxiliary air pressure supply will be more fully explained inconnection with the operation of the machine.

The three-way coupling 5G has a branch to which is coupled a shortsection ot flexible hose or pipe (l0 which communicates at its oppositeend with a nipple 61 of the coupling which communicates with therel-.ase valve and tubular weft.- detecting device which will now beexplained.

Secured to the end o't the breast beam by screws GG is a rearwardlyprojecting bracket which supports the release valve and the weftdetecting device. rlthis bracket G5 is formed with a horizontalrectangular guideway (57 and a vertical cylindrical bore 08 opening intothe guideway G7. Nlounted in the guideway (37 is a horizontallyreciprocating weft detecting and release valve member 70. This slidingmember is accurately itted in the guideway G7 but is tree to movetherein when actuated as hereinafter explained.

71 is a stud or pin screwed into the ttorward end of the member 7() andsecured by means of nut 72 threaded upon the reduced end oi the stud'l' 1. A rod T3 is formed with a yoke-shaped head 7'1- which engages thegrooved upper end of the pin or stud 71 and extends therefrom through aguide opening 75 formed in the vertical liront iange oit' the bracket Anexpansion spring 7G surrounds the rod 73 and is confined between thevertical iiange oi bracket 65 and the yoke head P1 of rod 73 for thepurpose o1 tending to hold the slide member 70 in its rearmost or innerposition.

The slide member 70 is formed in its upper tace with a port and acommunicating longitudinal passage 81 leading to the escape opening otmember 70 through the automatically adjustable filling engaging memberhereinafter explained.

Snugly fitted in the vertical cylindrical bore GS of bracket G5 is acylindrical hollow valve plug 35 formed with a trued lower face whichrests upon the upper face ot' slide member 70, and a central port Stiwhich is designed to register with the port 8O of slide 70 when themember TO is in position to open the release valve.

Threaded in the upper end of the vertical cylindrical bore 68 ot'bracket (35 is a hollow set screw 510 and coniined between the plug 85and set screw 90, and located vin the cavities of said parts, is anexpansion spring 95 which is 'tor the purpose ot pressing the valve plug85 irmly against the tace oit the slide member 70 to al'tord anapproximately air-tight joint between these parts.

A coupling ring 100 formed wit-h an internal annular groove 101 isconfined upon the hollow set screw and is in constant connnunicationwith the interior bore ot said screw through the radial ports 90a. 'lhiscoupling ring 100 has a radial port 102 in connuunieation with thenipple (51 above referred to which is secured in a radial socket `termedupon the coupling ring. Pry the described means it will be clear thatthere is a passageway for air pressure from the channel S1, ot' slidemember 70 to the interior of diaphragm chamber 45.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the slide member 70 is shown in its forwardoperative position with iti-ee eon'nnuuication open trom the hollowvalve plug 68 to the channel 81 of the slide member 70. This is theposition of the parts when the slide member l0 has been pushed forwardlyagainst the action of' its spring 76, by the engagement of the weftcarrier or the weft thread wound thereon. This will be hereinafter morefully explained. The normal position of the slide 70 is the reverse of'that shown in Fig. 5, in which the port 86 in plug 85 is closed by theplain surface of slide member 7 0 beyond the port 80. The slide memberT0 with release port 80 and channel S1 and hollow plug 85 of port S6constitute the escape or release valve of the improved controllingmechanism.

The rear or inner end of the slide member 70 has an internalcrescent-shaped recess 105 cut into it, said recess being a little morethan one half of a circle in extent. The wall of this internal recess ischanneled above and below to form a key flange 106.

110 is the self-adjusting weft engaging member of the weftI detectingdevice. This member 110, shown particularly in Fig. 6, 7, S and 9 of thedrawings, is shaped to snugly fit in the crescent-shaped opening 105 atthe end of the slide member 70, it being grooved as shown at 111 toreceive the key flange 106. The member 110 is formed with a weftengaging face 112 having an internal recess 113 communicating with adiametrical channel 114 extending into the flared port. or opening 115which is designed to afford free communication with the channel 81 inthe various adjusted positions of the member 110 upon the member 70.

In fitting the self-adjusting weft engaging member 110 upon the slidemember 70, it is necessary to first place member 110 in engagement withthe recess 105 of slide member 70 with the face 112 extending parallelwith the longitudinal axis of member 70. The key flange 106 is engagedwith the groove or recess 112 in this position and the member 110 thenrotated on its center until the face 112 is brought wholly without theend of slide 70 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The key flange 106is formed with a limiting slot- 115 through which passes a limiting` pin116 seated in the member 110. This pin and slot engagement betweenmembers 110 and 70 confines them against accidental displacement, and.permits the free automatic adjustment of member 110 to engage the weftcarrier or the weft thread wound thereon. The purpose of providing theslide member 70 with the seltadjusting member 110 is to enable the weftdetecting device to accurately engage the surface of the weft wound uponthe bobbin or other form of' weft carrier no matter whether wound incylindrical form or conical form, it being very important in carryingout my invention that a substantially accurate engagementbe made betweenthe wound weft and the engaging face of the detecting member.

ln F ig. 9 1 have shown a slightly modified form of' wett detectingdevice. 1n this form the contact piece 110 is formed with a serratedengaging face 110'UL to render t-he device operative upon bobbinswithout grooves or upon cop tubes, the seirations in the contact pieceembedding in the weft and cutting oft the escape of Ipressure so long asa sulfieient length remains upon the weft carrier, and engaging theplain surface of the bobbin or cop as the weft becomes exhausted andallo-wing the escape of pressure through the serrations.

In Fig. 10 T have shown a modification of automatically controlled dogsor detents by which the improved pneumatic controlling mechanism can becoupled up to operate the slide of the loom stopping mechanism in commonwith the ordinary weft detecting fork. 1n this modification, the slide17d has pivotally mounted upon it a` weft fork 18a constructed exactlyin the form now commonly used. 1 have added to this ordinary controllingslide and filling fork a U-shaped dog or detent 125 which is pivoted tothe slide as indicated at 126 and mounted so as to straddle theforwardly projecting detent arm 181 of the fork 18a. This U-shaped dogor detent 125 has projecting from it an angular arm 125a which isdesigned to rest above the arm 35 of the pneumatically controlled leverB6 above described. lith reference to this modified structure, it willbe understood that the combined dogs or detents mounted upon a singleslide which operates the loom throw out mechanism under the independentcontrol of the broken thread detecting fork 18a and the pneumatic weftdetecting device acting upon dog 125, are intended to take the place ofboth of the slides 17 and 26 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.lVhen using this modified combined controlling mechanism, it is intendedto throw out the loom either when a broken weft thread is detected orwhen the approaching exhaustion of the weft thread from the bobbin isdetected. Such an arrangement would be particularly applicable to thesimple form of loom which is not provided with a weft replenishingmechanism. but can` however. be applied to a weft replenishing loom` inwhich case, the weft rcplenishing mechanism would act upon the breakageof the filling` well as when the bobbin was nearly exhausted.

1t will be observed with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 5 of thedrawings, that my improved pneumatic weft detecting device will operateproperly only when the shuttle reaches proper position in the shuttlebox at the end of its flight to the left, for the reason that it isnecessary for the opening 5 in the side Wall oit the shuttle toapproximately register with the opening '-it in the side Wall oit theshuttle box. lt sometimesl happens, however, that the shuttle does notoperate properly and tails to reach its true position in the shuttle boxwith the result that the opening 5 olf the shuttle does not registerwith the vopening -L ot the shuttle box when the shuttle is at rest inthe shuttle box. Such action due to faulty adjustment ot the loom orsome derangement of the parts and prompt detection ot same important.Under these circumstances, the nf'et't detecting device Will engage theside of the shuttle upon the forward moveinem, oi the lay and Will notenter the opening 51. l'l this accident happens to a loom in which theimproved pneumatic controlling mechanism is applied to control a Wettreplenishing mechanism, it will be clear that the shuttle or bobbinchanging mechanism 'would be operated by reason of the opening otl therelease valve by the pressing in of member T0 through the engagement otthe side Wall of the shuttle7 it there was not an etfective closing upof the escape opening in member 110, but the operation of the Wettreplenishing .mechanism would not be e'liiected in ease the shuttle wereso tar out oi" the 'ay that its side Wall would sutliciently close theopening in the tace of member 110. ln the event of the automaticcontrolling mechanism being' in use to control the stopping of a loomWithout Wett replenishing mechanism and the shuttle fails to reachproper position in the shuttle box. the loom would be stopped by the,operation ot the automatic controlling` mechanism7 under the firstconditions cited above, but continues to operate under the second.`

To avoid the continued operation of either type of loom when out ofproper adjustment to the extent that the shuttle fails to reach properposition, as explained, l may extend the spring actuated rod T3t'ornf'ardly 'from its bearing in bracket (35 and mount upon a stud 150a short lever 151 in position to engage the shipper lever lO. A stoutspring 152 projects to the left of short lever ll into the path of pin73. The result oi? this arrangement is that in the event of the Wettdetecting member 7 0-110 being engaged by the side \vall o't the shuttlebecause ot the failure ot the shuttle to reach proper position in theshuttle box.y said member vtilh its rod Will be moved forwardly to agreater' extent than during the normal operation ot the apparatus, andthis extreme movement of pin 78 will. engage the spring and operate theshipper lever l() to stop the loom. In the normal operation of thecontrolling mechanism the pin 73 does not move tar enough to engage thespring 152.

The operation of my impro' ed pneumatic I sena-aa understood from thefollowing explanation. The pneumatic or pressure operated device shownin the form ot a diaphragm controls a dog or detent for the loomstopping mechanism or for the Wett replenishing mechanism in exactly thesame manner, the dille"- ent results depending upon the ditl'erent formsolE mechanism to which the controlling devices are applied. ln thenormal operation oi the loom, equipped with my improved controllingmechanism. the source ot air pressure supplies a su'l'licient pressurebeneath the controlling diaphragm to retain the controlled dog or deteutout ot' the path olf the Wett, hammer'. The air under pressure beneaththe diaphragm is also in communication with the coupling` leading to theescape or release valve .vhich is normally closed to retain thepressure. Upon each alternate movement of the lay toward the breastbeam, the shuttle comes into position in the shuttle box at the letthand end ol the lay and as the shuttle box reaches the limit of itsmovement toward the breast beam, the end of the member TO is presentedthrough the openings l and 5a ot the shuttle box and shuttle to bringthe selt-:uljusting member 110 in engagement with the Wett Wound uponthe bobbin or other Ytorni ot Wett carrier in the shuttle. lf there issut"- cient length oit weft upon the bobbin at the moment ot engagementwith the detecing device7 the open end ot' member llO will be completelyclosed by the yielding wett being pressed irmly against the engagingface 112 of said member. Then the ne't't is pressed in this manneragainst the member 110, the latter automatically adjusts itself to titsnugly against the wett. by turning sufficiently in the crescent-shapedrecess in the end of member 70. rlhe engagement of the ivound weft Withmember Vll() as the lay moves toward the breast beam. forces the slidemember 70 iliorivardly in the bracket G5 and opens up the release orescape valve so that there is free cou'nnunication bctwcen the channelot member 70 and the chamber of the controlling diaphragm. rllhe closingof the escape opening in the adjusting member 110 by the fillingprevents anyY material reduction in the pressure beneath thetliaphragnij so that the controlled dog or detent is retained out ot thepath ot the Wett hammer. rlhis operation continues Ytor each alternaten'iovement of the lay toward the breast beam. )rs the wett` is used upfrom the active shuttle. the sel'l'a 'ljustiug member llO ot thedetecting device automatically corrects its position for each engagementso to close the escape tor coni-- pressed air so long as sutcient wettremains inthe shuttle. `When the Wett is nearly exhausted and the`grooved part ot the bobbin which is engaged by the member ll() isbecontrolling mechanism for looms will be I coming uncovered. there willnot. be sutlillo cient Weft left to close the opening in the member 110so that when the bobbin presses forward the member and opens the escapeor release valve, the air under pressure beneath the diaphragm and inthe channels leading therefrom'to the release valve will escape and,because the amount of air which can enter the system through the openingunder the throttling screw 58 is small compared with what can escape bythe release valve, the reduced pressure will lower the diaphragm andpermit the controlled dog or detent to fall into the path of the wefthammer, which upon its next succeeding stroke w-ill engage saiddepressed dog or detent and operate said slide for either stopping theloom or actuating the weft replenishing mechanism.

By comparing the representations of the self-adjusting member 110 of thefilling detect-ing device in Figs. l, (3 and 7, it will be observed thatit is immaterial to the operation of my improved controlling device,whether the bobbin is formed with a cylindrical series of ribs tofacilitate the winding of the thread, as shown in F ig. l, or is formedwith a conical series of ribs as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. TWhen the weftdetecting device enga-ges a bobbin from which the. filling ispractically exhausted, the grooves between the ribs of the bobbin permita sufficient escape ofthe air pressure to insure the oeration of theautomaticall7 con` trolled dog or detent.

The serrations 110a of the contact piece 110 shown in Fig. 9, make itpossible to dispense with the circumferential grooves on the bobbin andalso render the device applicable to shuttles using` cop filling. t willbe readily noted that this device does not require special bobbins,bobbins of special uniformity or special winding of the thread on thebobbins or cop-quills. To reduce to the minimum, however, the amount offilling left on the bobbin when the automatic controlling mechanismacts, it is important that only as many of the grooves at the base ofthe bobbin as is presented to the face of contact piece 110, be woundwith thread to a level with the top of the grooves at the commencementof the winding of the filling on the bobbin. If the contacting pieceshown in 9 is used, then oue or two layers of thread continuously woundon the base of the filling carrier would take the place of filling woundin grooves. lt must be clearly understood, however, that the operationof this apparatus is not functionally dependent on the change of volumeof the filling on the filling carrier. This distinction can be the moreclearly recognized when we notice that the slide 70 and its contactingpiece 110 reach their extreme approach toward the axis of the shuttle bycontact with the top of the grooves on the bobbin and this may be sometime before the underlying grooves are sufliciently emptied of thread topermit the necessary escape of air and the consequent functioning of thecontrolling mechanism.

So far as l am aware, am the lirst to provide au automatic controllingmechanism for looms operating upon the pneumatic principle in which thepressure in the pneumatic device `is controlled by the presence orabsence of the weft or filling in the active shuttle and l desire toclaim this principle in a broad sense without regard to the specilicconstruction employed for carrying it out. Under this principle the airpressure is in reality the weft detector as well as the medium foroperating the controlling mechanism, since the variations in pressureindicate the presence and absence of the filling and prevent and causethe the operation of the controlled mechanism.

rlhe pressure operated device shown and described in the form of a diaphragm is not necessarily constructed in this form since it is clearthat other well known forms of devices operated by varying pressurescould be employed for controlling the action of the dog or detent whichconstitutes the connecting element between the weft hammer and theoperated slide of the controlled mechanism.

I have found from practical demonstrations with my improved controllingmechanism that it is extremely sensitive. The adjustments for thetension spring of the controlling lever 36 and of the air supply valve5S enable me to regulate the operation to a nicety. I have found that bythrottling down the air supply, the mechanism can be operated onthe'cumulative plan, or in other words, it can be arranged so that theair pressure which maintains the dog or detent out of the path of theweft hammer can be gradually reduced by successive actions of the weftdetecting device until the mechanism is iinally operated. Under thisplan the approaching exhaustion of the thread from the weft carrier inthe shuttle will lirst be indicated by a slight reduction in thepressure beneath the diaphragm and since the air supply is throttled tosuch an extent that the amount entering in the interval betweensuccessive openings of release valve would not be sutlicient to entirelyrestore the amount that escaped at the first reduction in pressure, thepressure will be further reduced upon the next operation of thedetecting device and so on until the controlled mechanism is operated.Coincident with this cumulative reduction of pressure is the progressiveemptying of thread from the grooves on the bobbin by which the escape ofair at each successive operation is increased. By the describedadjustments, I am able to delay the operation of the controlledmechanism until there is a very short length of filling thread left uponthe bobbin in the active shuttle.

ln the application of my invention to weft-replenishing looms in whichthe change of shuttle or bobbin is accomplished with out sensiblereduction of speed of the ma chine, it is necessary Vthat the amount ofair supplied to the diaphragm chamber` in the interval of time thatintervenes between the closure of the release valve at last contact witha nearly exhausted bobbin and its immediate opening by iirst Contactwith a fresh bobbin. be su'tlicient 'to restore the pressure therein toa point where the diaphragm will be lifted and the dog` or detent raisedsuiiiciently to he out of the path of the weft hammer, otherwise anotheroperation of the weft-changing device will immediately follow. To insurea positive control of this action, l may, as above described, add anauxiliary air admission valve,l in addition to the throttling valvewhich may be opened by the forward movement of the slide which bringsthe weft changing mechanism into operation and which is under thecontrol of the weft hammer. ri`he. object of this auxiliary valve is tomore quickly restore the normal pressure in the diaphragm chamber thanis possible wien all the air that enters this chamber must come throughthe throttling valve. This auxiliary valve, during the normal working ofthe machine, is kept closed against the passage of air from the supplypipe to the diaphragm chamber. When the lever 30 is forced forward withthe movement of the slide the coil spring i3?) surrounding therearwardly projecting stein of the valve forces the valve oil its seat,rthus openii'ig the channel to the passage of air from the air supplypipe 57 to the diaphragm chamber, restoring the pressure therein andlifting the diaphragm 50 and the superimposed lever 3G to its normalraised position. lt will he noted that this .is rendered possible byreason of the depression in the upper edge of the arm of the lever Btias shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the slide 26 begins to move forward byreason of the engagement of the dog 2i) by the weft hammer 2O the partQS is moved from its position at the highest part 352 at the end of the,arm 35 to a position above the dein'essed edge of the arm 35, thusaffording space for the raising of the diaphragm and lever 353 withw outraising the ear 2S 'which continues in contact with the weft hammer Q()during the continuance of its stroke. lVhen the slide returns to itsnormal position and the weft hammer frees itself from the dog, the ear28 rides up on the inclined edge of the arm to high part 85a near theend and lifts the dog out of the path of the weft hammer at thesucceeding stroke.

seneca l would have it clearly understood that l do not intend to limitmy present invention to the details in construction employed in theparticular mechanism illustrated in the drawings and above described. ldesire to cover the broad principle involved in the mechanism for thepurpose explained. lWhile the specific form of mechanism set forthoperates under the action of air pres sure supplied to the pressureactuated controlling device and regulated by the weft detecting device,it will be perfectly clear that the same results can be accomplishedwith but a slight rearrangement of parts of the mechanism under thevacuum or exhaustion plan. Such rearrangement would involve essentiallythe same elements so arranged that the pressure actuated controllingdevice would be retained in its controh ling position by the exhaustionof air above the diaphragm. by any suitable suction apparatus, and thedetecting device so arranged that the apiliroaching exhaustion of weftfrom the active shuttle will admit air to the exhaustion chamber abovethe diaphragm to thereby lower the controlled dog into the path of theweft hammer. rlhis rearrangement of parts is so obvious that it has beenthought unnecessary to illustrate the same. ln either case the detectingdevice equalizes the air in the controlling del a. vice with theatn'iospheric air, but in one case there is a raising of pressure and inthe other case, there is a lowering. lVith this explanation, it will beunderstood that the expressions used in the claims with referI` ence tothe pressure actuated device and the regulation or control of pressureapplied thereto are intended to refer to the prin-I ciple involved in myinvention, whether operating upon the plan in which air is suppliedunder pressure or air is exhausted to render the atmospheric pressureeffective.

What l claim is:

l. ln a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a iuidpressure actuated controlling device, with means, controlled by thepresence or absence of weft in the active shuttle, for regulating thepressureI applied to said coiitrolling device.

ln a, controlling n'iechanirlfm for looms, 'the combination of a Vtluidpressure actuated controlling device, with a weft detecting' deviceadapted to regulate the pressuri applied to said controlling device.

Si. ln a controlling mechanism for looms, the coml'iination of apressure actuated coutrolling device, with a pneumatic weftl de tectingdevice adapted to regulate the pressure applied to said coiitrollingdevice.

4t. In a` controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of apneumatic controlling device, with a pneumatic weft detecting deviceadapted to detect the presence or absence of weft in the active shuttleby air pressure and thereby regulate the pressure applied to saidcontrolling device.

5. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated con` trolling device, with a pneumatic Weft detecting devicecommunicating With said controlling device and adapted to detect thepresence or absence of Wett upon the Wett carrier in the active shuttleand thereby regulate the pressure applied to said controlling device,and means for supplying air pressure to said controlling device.

G. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, With means controlled by the presence orabsence of weft upon the weft carrier in the active shuttle forregulating pressure applied to said controlling device, a source of airpressure communicating With said controlling device, and meanscontrolling the supply of air pressure.

7. In a controlling mechanism for looms, tbe combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, With a pneumatic Wett dctect-ing devicecommunicating with said controlling device and adapted to detect thepresence or absence of filling upon the weft carrier, in the activeshuttle and thereby regulate the pressure applied to said controllingdevice, means or supplying air pressure to said controlling device, mainand auxiliary means controlling` the supply of air pressure, and anautomatic device controlling said auxiliary means.

8. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling` device, with a pneumatic wett detecting devicecommunicating with said controlling device and adapted to detect thepresence or absence of Wett in the active shuttle and thereby regulatethe pressure applied to said controlling device, a main air pressuresupply pipe communicating with said controlling device, a normallyclosed auxiliary air pressure supplv pipe communieating with saidcontrolling device, and means actuated by the operation of saidcontrolling device for opening said auxiliary supply pipe.

9. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, With means controlled by the presence orabsence of weft in the active shuttle for regulating pressure applied tosaid controlling device, a source of air pressure communicating withsaid controlling device, means controlling the normal supply of airpressure, and auxiliary means for augmenting the supply of air pressure.

10. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, With means controlled by the presence orabsence of weft in the active shuttle for regulating pressure applied tosaid controlling device, a source of air pressure communicating Withsaid controlling device, a main controlling valve regulating the normalsupply of air pressure, an auxiliary valve for admitting supplementalair pressure and means for automatically operating said auxiliary valve.

11. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of acontrolling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arranged tocontrol said dog or detent, and means controlled by the presence orabsence 01"' weft in the active shuttle for regulating pressure in saidpressure actuated device.

1Q. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of acontrolled mechanism, an operating device therefor, a controlling dog ordetent arranged to operatively connect said controlled mechanism Withsaid operating device, a pressure actuated device arranged to controlsaid dog or detent, and a weft detecting device constructed to regulatethe pressure in said pressure actuated device. y

13. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of acontrolling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arranged tocontrol said dog or detent, a source of air pressure communicating Withsaid pressure actuated device, an adjustable valve arranged between saiddevice and said source of air pressure, and a weft detecting deviceconstructed to regulate the pressure in said pressure actuated device.

14. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of acontrolled mechanism, an operating device therefor, a. controlling dogor detent arranged to operatively connect said controlled mechanism withsaid operating device, a pressure actuated device arranged to controlsaid dog or detent, a source of air pressure communicating with saidpressure actuated device, a weft detecting device constructed toregulate the pressure in said pressure actuated device, a valve betweensaid source of air pressure and said pressure actuated device, and meansactuated by said controlled mechanism for operating said valve.

15. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of acontrolling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arranged tocontrol said dog or detent, a source of air pressure communicating Withsaid pressure actuated device, an adjustable valve arranged between saiddevice and said source of air pressure, a lling detecting deviceconstructed to regulate the pressure in said pressure actuated device,an auxiliary valve also arranged between said device and said source ofair pressure, means holding said auxiliary valve normally closed, andmeans for automatically opening said auxiliary valve.

16. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, with a release valve for said device, andmeans operated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve.

17. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combinati'ii of a pressureactuated controlling device, vand a source of air pressure communicatingwith said device, with a release valve for said device, and meansoperated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve.

1S. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination ot a pressureactuated controlling device, and a source of air pressure communicatingwith said device, with an adj ustable valve arranged between said deviceand said source of air pressure, a release valve tor said device, andmeans operated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve.

19. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, and a source of air pressure communicatingwith said device, with a release valve for said device, means operatedby the active shuttle for operating said release valve, and means torquickly restoring pressure to said device after the pressure has beenreleased by said valve.

20. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, and a source of air pressure communicatingwith said device, with an adjustable valve arranged between said deviceand said source of air pressure tor controlling the normal pressuresupply to said device, a release valve for said device, means operatedby the active shuttle for operating said release valve, and anautomatically operated auxiliary valve between said device and saidsource of air pressure adapted to quickly restore pressure in saiddevice after it has been reduced through said release valve.

2l. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, with a pressure regulating weft detectingdevice, and means for causing the engagement of said weft detectingdevice and the weft carrier in the active shuttle.

22. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, with a release valve for said device, avalve operating device and means for causing the engagement of saidvalve operating device and the weft carrier in the active shuttle.

23. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuated controlling device, with a release valve for said device, and atubular detecting member communicating with said release valve andadapted to operate it and retain the pressure when engaged by the wetton the carrier in the active shuttle.

2li. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureactuatral controlling device, with a tubular detecting devicecommunicating with said controlling device and adapted to have itsrelease opening closed by the wett in the activo shuttle, and anautcniatically operated release valve ai ranged between said controllingdevice and said detecting device.

25. In a controlling mechanism tor looms, the combination of acontrolling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arr ged to operatesaid dog or detent, mea-ns tor supplying air under pressrue to saidpressure actuated device, and an intermittently operated tubular llingdetecting device in communication with said pressure actuated doevicearranged to be actuated by a wett carrier for maintaining or releasingthe pressure in accordance with the presence or al sence or' wett uponthe wett carrier.

2G. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of acontrolling dog or des tent, a pressure actuated device arranged tooperate said dog or det-ent, means tor supplying air under pressure tosaid pressure actuated device, and an intermittently opcrated tubulardetecting device having a release valve in communication with saidpressure actuated device arranged to be actuated by a wett carri-er formaintaining or releasing the pressure in accordance with the presence orabsence of weft.

27. In a loom controlling mechanism, the combination of a controllingdog or detent,

a pressure actuated device for operating said dog or detent, means forsupplying air under pressure to said pressure actuated device, anormally closed release valve in communication with said pressureactuated device, a tubular wett detecting device communicating with saidrelease valve and adapted to be engaged by a weft carrier or the wettthereon to intermittently open said release valve and in the event etthe presence ot' a sutlicient quantity et wettto close the releaseopening through said tubular detecting device.

28. In a loom controlling mechanism, the combination of the wett hammer,a slide suitably connected with the mechanism to be operated, a dog ordetent mounted upon said slide, a controlling lever engaging said dog ordetent, a pressure operated device engaging said controlling lever, asource or air pressure in communication with said pressure operateddevice, and a wett detecting device adapted to regulate the pressure insaid pressure operated device.

29. In loom controlling mechanism, the

combination of the weft hammer, a slide suitably connected with themechanism to be operated, a dog or detent mounted upon said slide, acontrolling lever engaging' said dog or detent, a pressure ope ateddevice engaging said controlling lever, a tension spring holding saidlever into engagement with said pressure operated device, a source ofair pressure in communication with said pressure operated device, anadjustable valve arranged between said source of air pressure and saidpressure operated device, and a weft detecting device adapted toregulate the pressure in said pressure operated device.

30. In a loom controlling` mechanism, the combination of the wefthammer, a slide suitably connected with the mechanism to be operated, adog or detent mounted upon said slide, a controlling lever engaging saiddog or detent, a pressure operated device engaging said controllinglever, a source of air pressure in communication with said pressureoperated device, a pressure supply valve arranged between said source ofair pressure and said pressure operated device, means actuated by saidslide for operating said valve, and a filling detecting device adaptedto regulate the pressure in said pressure operated device.

31. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureoperated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressurethereto, with a tubular weft detecting device in communication with saidpressure operated device, and a self-adjusting weft engaging member uponsaid detecting device.

32. ln a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureoperated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressurethereto, with a weft detecting device in communication with saidpressure operated device, and comprising a member projecting into thepath of the shuttle box of the lay and formed with an air escapepassage, a weft engaging member formed with an engaging face and an airpassage therethrough, and means pivotally connecting said engagingmember with said detecting member to permit said engaging mem- 5 ber toautomatically adjust itself with relation to the carrier or the weftwound thereon.

33. In a controlling mechanism for loomsv` the combination of a pressureoperated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressurethereto, with a weft detecting member projecting into the path of theshuttle boX of the lay, and formed with an air passage therethrough anda crescent shaped recess in its inner end, a weft engaging member shapedto fit the recessed end of said detecting member and formed with anengaging :tace and an air passage communicating with the passage of saiddetecting member and means for confining said weft engaging member inplace.

34. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressureoperated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressurethereto, with a weft detecting member projecting into the path of theshuttle box of the lay, and having a weft engaging face, a springyieldingly holding said detecting member .in its inner position, and arelease valve between said pressure operated device and said detectingmember operated by the movement of said detecting member.

ln a loom controlling mechanism, the combination of a pressure operatedcontrolling device, and means for supplying air pressure thereto, with asupporting bracket formed with a guideway and a plug receiving socket, aweft detecting member movably mounted in said guideway and formed withan air passage therethrough, a spring device for holding said detectingdevice in its inner position, a hollow valve plug movably mounted insaid socket in engagement with said detecting device, and communicationbetween said socket and said pressure operated device.

HENRY r. MEnnmM.

Witnesses:

WVM. E. KNIGHT, M. G. CRAWFORD.

